Actors Who Were Fired on the Very First Day of Filming

The movie business is fast-paced and decisions happen quickly to ensure a film stays true to its original idea. It’s common for actors to be replaced during early stages, but sometimes this happens even after filming has begun. These changes can be due to disagreements about the project, problems with an actor’s behavior, or simply realizing someone doesn’t quite fit the role once cameras are rolling. Being fired on the first day of shooting is unusual, but it can have a big impact on both the movie and the people involved. Here’s a look at actors who experienced this rare situation.

Stuart Townsend

The actor trained for two months to play Aragorn in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’. However, the day before filming started, director Peter Jackson felt he looked too young for the part of the battle-hardened ranger. He was then replaced by Viggo Mortensen, who arrived quickly to join the production. The actor was understandably upset by this sudden change, especially after dedicating so much time to preparing for the entire trilogy, and he wasn’t paid for his preparation work.

James Remar

Filming on ‘Aliens’ had just started when the actor playing Corporal Hicks was fired. Director James Cameron made this decision after the actor was arrested for drug possession. Michael Biehn quickly stepped in to take over the role and began filming immediately. Interestingly, a few shots of the original actor, filmed from behind, were still used in the final movie. This is a rare case of a major character being replaced so late in the production of a film.

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling was initially chosen to play the heartbroken father in Peter Jackson’s film, ‘The Lovely Bones.’ He showed up to set having gained sixty pounds, hoping to portray the character’s distress through his physical appearance. However, the director didn’t agree with this approach and replaced him on the first day of filming. Mark Wahlberg then took on the role, and the movie continued production smoothly. Gosling later acknowledged that he and the film’s team hadn’t communicated effectively during the preparation process.

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra, the iconic singer and actor, was originally cast in the 1950s musical film ‘Carousel.’ However, on the first day of shooting, he learned the production intended to film every scene twice – once for each film format. Sinatra famously protested that he wasn’t being paid to make two movies simultaneously and immediately quit. The studio had to find a replacement, Gordon MacRae, to finish the film. This abrupt departure remains a well-known story of a major star abandoning a project on its very first day.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

The action movie star was originally cast as the alien creature in ‘Predator,’ alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. On his first day, he wore a bulky red suit used for initial visual effects tests. However, Van Damme quickly disliked the costume, feeling it made him look more like a lobster than a fearsome hunter. The filmmakers also realized they needed someone taller to convincingly portray the alien against the film’s muscular actors. As a result, he was let go early in production and replaced by Kevin Peter Hall.

Dennis Hopper

Peter Weir, the director of ‘The Truman Show,’ initially cast a well-known actor as Christof in the film’s darkly comedic story. However, after the first day of shooting, Weir felt the performance wasn’t quite right for the character he envisioned. The actor was let go, and the filmmakers quickly began looking for a replacement. Ed Harris ultimately took on the role and was nominated for an Academy Award. The change was due to differing opinions on how the villainous character should be portrayed.

Kel O’Neill

Production on the historical film ‘There Will Be Blood’ started with an actor in the role of Eli Sunday. However, the filmmakers quickly noticed he was having difficulty keeping up with Daniel Day-Lewis’s demanding acting process. To maintain the film’s dynamic, the director decided to replace him early on. Paul Dano, who was already playing the part of the brother, stepped in to play both roles. This led to one of the most celebrated dual performances in recent film history.

Richard Gere

Early in his career, the actor landed a role in the drama ‘The Lord of Flatbush’ with Sylvester Stallone. However, the two actors quickly clashed, and things escalated into a physical fight – reportedly over a chicken sandwich – on the very first day of filming. Stallone demanded that one of them be removed from the project, and the production ultimately decided to fire the actor. Perry King replaced him, and the film was finished without any further issues. This incident has become a famous Hollywood story about the beginnings of both actors’ careers.

Dougray Scott

I always find it fascinating to think about how close things came to being different! Apparently, another actor was originally supposed to be Wolverine in the very first ‘X-Men’ movie back in 2000. Sadly, filming on ‘Mission Impossible 2’ went on longer than expected, and he just wasn’t available when they needed him on set. The studio had to make a quick decision, and that’s when they cast Hugh Jackman. It’s amazing to think he flew in and started filming almost immediately! That one scheduling issue completely changed the direction of the whole franchise, and honestly, I can’t imagine anyone but Hugh Jackman as Wolverine now.

Mick Jagger

I was so excited when I heard Mick Jagger was going to be in Werner Herzog’s ‘Fitzcarraldo’! It was a really big project, filmed way out in the jungle, but things started going wrong almost immediately. There were constant delays and technical problems, and then the main actor got sick, which shut everything down. Mick had to leave to get ready for his band’s tour, and when they tried to get things going again, they ended up cutting his character out of the movie completely. It’s a shame, because there are only a few short clips of him in costume from the beginning of filming. It would have been amazing to see what he could have done with the role!

Anthony Michael Hall

Stanley Kubrick chose an actor to play Private Joker in ‘Full Metal Jacket,’ but the production quickly became challenging. The actor and director clashed early on over the film’s schedule and how it should be made, leading to the actor being replaced. Matthew Modine was then cast in the role, and the movie went on to become a celebrated war film. All the initial preparation with the first actor ended up being unused.

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone was initially cast as Axel Foley in ‘Beverly Hills Cop.’ However, he envisioned the film as a gritty action movie, while the studio preferred a comedic tone. When they couldn’t reach an agreement on the cost of his proposed changes just before filming was scheduled to start, Stallone left the project. Eddie Murphy then took on the role, and the movie became a huge success, launching Murphy to even greater stardom.

Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman was initially chosen to play Mr. Robinson in ‘The Graduate,’ but director Mike Nichols quickly realized he appeared too young for the role after the first rehearsal and screen tests. Hackman was let go before filming any major scenes with the other actors. Murray Hamilton took his place, and the movie continued with the new cast. Despite this early setback, the actor went on to have a very successful career, eventually winning several Academy Awards.

Viggo Mortensen

At the beginning of his acting career, he landed a part in Woody Allen’s ‘The Purple Rose of Cairo’. He spent a day on set filming with the main actors, but when he finally saw the movie in theaters, his entire role had been cut. It turned out this happened to many actors who worked with that director. Later, Mortensen went on to become a well-known star through his work in other popular film series.

Tim Curry

The talented actor was first chosen to voice the Joker in the popular ‘Batman: The Animated Series’. He recorded several episodes, but the producers thought his performance was too scary for young viewers. They ultimately decided to recast the role, choosing Mark Hamill, who became widely known as the definitive voice of the Joker. While Curry went on to voice other cartoon villains, his original interpretation of the Joker remains a fascinating, little-known piece of animation history.

Buddy Ebsen

The actor was originally cast as the Tin Man in the classic film ‘The Wizard of Oz’. However, after just nine days of filming, he had a serious allergic reaction to the aluminum makeup used to create the character’s look. He required hospitalization, and because the production couldn’t delay, he was replaced by Jack Haley. The makeup was then changed to a paste to avoid the same problem with the new actor. Although it wasn’t a typical firing, the change was made quickly to keep the movie on schedule.

Marcus Chong

The actor was originally scheduled to reprise his role in the sequels to ‘The Matrix.’ However, he was fired early in the production of ‘The Matrix Reloaded’ following disagreements about his pay and contract. Reports indicate he repeatedly contacted the directors, leading to a legal dispute and his dismissal from the franchise. The filmmakers rewrote the story to remove his character, replacing him with a new character on the ship. This highly publicized conflict ended his participation in the popular science fiction trilogy.

Thomas Gibson

The actor was a regular on the TV show ‘Criminal Minds’ for several seasons. He was fired on the first day of shooting an episode during the twelfth season after getting into a physical fight with a producer. The network investigated what happened and quickly decided to end his contract. The show explained his character’s departure by saying he had entered witness protection. This unexpected exit surprised many fans who had watched the character throughout the series.

Isaiah Washington

The actor was a key cast member on the medical drama ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ in its first few seasons, playing a surgeon. He got into a heated argument with a colleague on set, during which a homophobic insult was used. While he wasn’t immediately removed from the show, the network ultimately fired him just as filming for the next season was about to start. His character was written off the show by having him abandon his wedding and relocate. The firing received widespread media attention and sparked conversations about appropriate behavior in the entertainment industry.

Columbus Short

The actor was a series regular on the popular drama ‘Scandal,’ playing a key member of the team that handled crises. He was let go at the beginning of the fourth season due to personal legal problems. The show’s creator felt it was no longer possible for him to continue with the production, so his character was written off the show without an on-screen death. Later, the actor discussed his personal challenges and how they affected his career at that time.

Hartley Sawyer

The actor initially joined ‘The Flash’ as Ralph Dibny, appearing in later seasons of the show. However, he was fired on the first day of pre-production for season seven when problematic old social media posts came to light. The network and producers released a statement condemning the comments and confirming his removal. His character was written out of the show, and the storyline was changed to reflect his departure. This situation became a well-known case of how past behavior can impact someone’s career in Hollywood.

James Purefoy

The actor was initially cast as the main character in the movie ‘V for Vendetta’, based on the graphic novel. After weeks of filming while wearing the mask, the director decided his performance wasn’t quite right and replaced him with Hugo Weaving. Interestingly, some of the character’s physical movements in the finished film still come from the original actor, even though Hugo Weaving provided the voice. The switch happened fast to avoid delays in the movie’s production schedule.

Harvey Keitel

Francis Ford Coppola initially chose the actor for the role of Captain Willard in ‘Apocalypse Now’. However, after a few days of shooting in the jungle, Coppola felt he wasn’t right for the thoughtful, internal character. The actor was let go and Martin Sheen quickly flew to the remote filming location to take over. This change was just the first of many challenges for the production, which also faced problems with the weather and cast and crew health. The brief footage of the original actor remains of interest to fans of the film.

Rob Lowe

The actor was originally chosen to lead the medical drama ‘Dr Vegas,’ joining a cast of familiar faces. However, after filming the first day of the pilot, the network felt the cast didn’t have the right on-screen connection. He was quickly replaced, and the show went through major revisions before finally airing. This sudden change was unexpected for such an experienced television actor. Ultimately, the show didn’t last long and was soon canceled.

Rip Torn

A seasoned actor was originally chosen to play George Hanson in the iconic film ‘Easy Rider’, but he was let go after a fierce argument with Dennis Hopper, who also directed and starred in the movie. The argument, which supposedly involved a knife, happened during a dinner before filming began. Jack Nicholson then stepped into the role, and it became a breakthrough performance for him. This event showed just how unpredictable and challenging the independent film world was in the late 1960s. For years afterward, both the fired actor and Hopper had differing stories about what actually happened.

Damon Wayans

I’ll never forget when this actor was on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ He was incredibly brave – or maybe a little reckless! – to completely change a character during a live sketch, making him much more over-the-top than the writers intended, especially during a police sketch. It was a shocking moment, and Lorne Michaels immediately fired him after the show. But honestly, it was a fantastic thing for comedy! It pushed him to create ‘In Living Color,’ which was a huge success. And years later, to see him host ‘SNL’ despite everything? That was a full-circle moment and a testament to his talent. It proved he really was a comedic force.

Charles Grodin

The actor hosted ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 1977 and became notorious for intentionally disrupting the live show. He playfully acted confused, pretending to miss his lines and not realizing the show was unscripted. The producers were so annoyed by his antics that they permanently banned him from hosting again – essentially firing him. That episode remains a memorable and controversial part of the show’s history.

Robert De Niro

Early in his career, the actor landed a part in the comedy ‘The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight,’ but he left the project to take on a role he felt was a better fit. The studio then cast Al Pacino, who was also starting to gain recognition. This change ultimately benefited both actors, putting them on the path to becoming famous. It’s a rare case where a parting of ways worked out so well for everyone involved.

Al Pacino

Before becoming famous, the actor was actually fired from a play called ‘The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight.’ He’d been chosen for a main part, but the director decided he didn’t fit the play’s comedic style. He was replaced early in rehearsals, but this didn’t stop him from quickly getting his big break in ‘The Godfather.’ Despite this early rejection, he went on to become one of the most celebrated actors of his time.

Share your thoughts on these sudden casting changes in the comments.

2026-02-27 17:50